Democrats request Hatch Act probe of Republican convention

Democrats on House Oversight Committee are seeking an investigation into what y call repeated violations of federal Hatch Act by members of Trump administration during last month's Republican National Convention.

1939 law is intended to limit political activity by federal employees in ir official capacity, although it does t apply to president and vice president.

Throughout convention, administration officials "repeatedly used ir official positions and White House itself to bolster President (Donald) Trump’s re-election campaign,” lawmakers wrote in a letter to independent Office of Special Counsel. “We are alarmed that President Trump and some senior administration officials are actively undermining compliance with — and respect for — law.”

Trump gave his acceptance speech for GOP presidential mination at White House, and Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf appeared in a video of a naturalization ceremony on White House grounds led by Trump. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also spoke to convention through a video link while in Israel on official travel, and numerous officials used White House for convention speaking engments.

"We are particularly concerned with consequences of White House actions on career employees who may have felt pressured to help organize and put on se events, potentially subjecting m to legal jeopardy,'' Democrats wrote Wednesday. "Career employees have faced severe consequences for behavior far less egregious than what country witnessed last week.''

For example, a Department of Energy employee who provided a tour of a federal facility to a congressional candidate was forced to resign, and a Defense Logistics ncy employee who included phrase “Vote Republican” in a PowerPoint presentation received a suspension of 30 days without pay.

Office of of Special Counsel is an independent investigative and prosecutorial ncy that oversees executive branch officials, including ir compliance with Hatch Act.

In addition to Trump's speech and naturalization ceremony, a regional administrator at Department of Housing and Urban Development interviewed New York City tenants for a video segment that was shown at convention. Several participants later said y were t aware interviews would be used at convention.

Vice President Mike Pence's use of Maryland's Fort McHenry to film a keyte address also raised questions about role of White House employees and National Park Service resources, Democrats said.

White House spokesman Judd Deere called request by Democrats “just ar witch hunt” that will “waste valuable time and money.'' GOP convention events were planned and executed by Trump campaign and Republican National Committee, he said, adding: "Any government employees who did participate did so in compliance with Hatch Act.''

Trump White House has taken an ambivalent approach to ethics rules and rms that guided past administrations. And Wolf and Pompeo w join a lengthy list of or Trump officials who have taken a cavalier approach specifically to Hatch Act.

Trump has joked he would "excuse anyone found to be violating” Hatch Act on his behalf. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows dismissed concerns about such violations, telling Politico: “body outside of Beltway really cares.”

Past secretaries of state have gone to lengths to avoid appearance of partisan political activity, particularly during minating conventions for administrations y served. Pompeo’s speech shattered that precedent and even went against guidance he issued to American diplomats, advising that federal law prevented m from overtly taking sides in presidential campaign.

Two government watchdog groups have filed separate ethics complaints against Wolf and Pompeo over ir actions during GOP convention.